Summer Reading List

Two years ago during the Film Festival, we screened The Descendants and had a Q&A with the lead opposite George Clooney, Shailene Woodley. I remember sitting there thinking how well-spoken, down to earth and real she was while holding a mic and speaking to a room full of strangers. She had a command and presence that just pulled you in.

Fast forward to today, and she is blowing up. With the lead in the Divergent series (which by the by, is a FANTASTIC series and highly recommended if you enjoy/ed Hunger Games) and The Fault in Our Stars (just picked up the book, plan on reading it during this weekend’s Colorado trip), she’s in this spectacular trailer, The Spectacular Now. It’s also based off a book.

There’s your Summer reading list courtesy of Shailene Woodley’s movie career.

Oh and naturally, I’m all about the song in this trailer– “Feel Again” by OneRepublic

Book It to Algonquin Hotel

When I’m staying at hotels, I’m always itching to get out of the room, no matter how immaculate it is. And then I saw this and figured my hotel ways would for sure change.

The Algonquin Hotel just announced a partnership with Simon & Schuster that will feature a Simon & Schuster Suite and Package. The Suite, stocked with bookcases of classics, book memorabilia and advanced copies of new releases, features a living room and king-sized bed and a turn-down service where you walk away with a soon-to-be-released book.

Should you decide to venture outside of the hotel room, there will be breakfast in the Round Table Restaurant and author readings. Rainy vacation days in NYC just got oh so fantastic, with a $459/night price tag. For a photo gallery of the featured room, Christopher Reynolds of Los Angeles Times provided some images.

Via Publishers Weekly

 

Just for Fun

This past week, Chicago welcomed the annual Just for Laughs festival. Last year, I was able to attend a couple of smaller shows, but this year, all bets were off.

After Rochelle’s boyfriend was unable to go to the Conan show, I got the invite. We posted up outside at 6:30 a.m. to ensure we scored great seats. It paid off as we received the fourth row! Anna (my mentee and Rochelle’s sister) made shirts for us to wear throughout the work day and it was a struggle to stay focused. At 4, we all headed over to the Chicago theatre for the taping. Despite boasting a guest list I wasn’t too thrilled about, the show was phenomenal (though to be fair, those seats were the main reason). Aziz Ansari popped out of nowhere and did a little something, at which point, I sat shell-shocked in my seat.

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A few days later, Amanda and I went to see Nick Offerman‘s show (Ron Swanson for those Parks & Recreation fans out there). He’s married to Megan Mullally (neé Karen from Will & Grace), so I was equally pumped when she made an appearance and performed for a bit. Offerman’s set was so incredibly fantastic. I felt like Leslie Knope receiving advice from my mentor as he went through his 10 tips for prosperity. I firmly believe we should clone him.

After leaving the set, we ran into Retta, who plays Donna on Parks & Rec. In the last season, Donna and Tom (played by Aziz Ansari) do a bit about “Treat Yo Self.” It’s a day (“The Best Day of the Year”) devoted solely to yourself and everything you love. Amanda and I took this idea to heart when we booked a northeastern adventure in August to see Mumford & Sons in Maine and the Lumineers in Central Park. So naturally when we saw Retta, we had to do “The Best Day of the Year” pose.

I cannot wait to see what’s in store for next year’s Just for Laughs Fest!

We Are Kansas

Game Day.

 

Reely Excited

Every year, the Junior Board for Cinema|Chicago and the Chicago International Film Festival puts on a spring fundraiser. The night raises funds for the outreach education program, which gives Chicago Public School students the chance to see an independent/international film and meet with cast from the film. Last year we did the Film Noir event and this year, we’re raising the stakes.

We’re holding “The Reely Teeny Weeny Film Festival Spectacular” and asking anyone in the Chicago area to submit a 60-second film that either recreates a favorite scene or sums up the whole movie in the 60 seconds. Our Junior Board will select 15 films to screen and show at the event, allowing partygoers to vote on the winning entry. The event will take place atop the Dana Hotel at Vertigo Sky Lounge (so fingers crossed for unseasonably warm April weather).

The winning entry will be shown during the Junior Board Night at the 48th Chicago International Film Festival this October. Pique your interest? Know of someone who would be perfect for the event? Head here for more information.

I can’t remember the last time I was this excited for April.

All of the Lights

The Chicago skyline is going to have some bright, colorful lights to compete with at the end of the week. From February 10-20, Millennium Park (and Cloud Gate–or The Bean) will become Luminous Field. The work, by artist duo Luftwerk will take pedestrians on a sound and light spectacular, making the exhibit truly interactive.

I for one am pretty excited to see this from our office viewpoint, then go down and just dance crazily in the lights, among the lights and under the lights.

Finding Your Way to the Abbey

Every winter season in Chicago, I find a TV show and series to carry me through the winter blues. It helps keep me sane. Last year, it was Friday Night Lights. The year before, Modern Family. And this year, while Dexter appeared to be my new favorite show keeping me trapped in my room dressed in sweats, it isn’t.

After hearing much about Downton Abbey on all of the blogs I read, I decided to look into this show, which I’ll admit, I thought was Downtown Abbey. This miniseries airs on PBS Masterpiece and follows the lives of one aristocratic family and their servants–a bit a rather enjoy. I’ve now found myself unable to stop thinking about the show and wondering when I’ll get to watch it again. And despite appearances, it has nothing to do with the accents. It’s all about the music and that library!

I’m sure my dreams appreciate going to sleep after watching an episode about the Crawley family instead of the serial killer ways of Dexter Morgan.

Real Books

I know I wrote on how fantastic books are yesterday, but I just couldn’t resist. A Toronto-based bookstore, Type, put this little gem together. Makes me want to hop a plane to Canada just to high five ’em. via Brain Pickings

A Whale of a Time

Last night, my friend Natalie and I went to the opening night celebration for the Field Museum‘s newest exhibit, (opening today) Whales: Giants of the Deep. We got dolled up and enjoyed fantastic foods and drinks the whole night while diving in with the whales.

The exhibit was pretty cool and filled with skeletons of various whales making you feel so incredibly tiny. But my favorite, and most shocking moment, happened when we stumbled upon a replica of a whale’s heart. It’s basically the size of a Mini Cooper. No joke. And as we stood there, dressed to the nines, our mouths just hung wide open.

But our favorite moment of the night came during dinner with a nice couple from Elmhurst, Cheryl and Johnny I believe? They were our parents’ ages and hilarious. We couldn’t have asked for better table company. They told us their story and we told them our transplant stories of arriving in Chicago. Then Cheryl said something that just made Natalie and I put down our forks and drinks (which, let’s be honest, is quite the feat).

“There’s always more work. Find time to play.”

Cheryl delivered this line with such brutal honesty to us. It didn’t feel like advice, it felt more like a command. Now it’s no secret, Natalie and I play. And play hard. This week alone we’ve had events every night of the week. And yea, while we’re exhausted today and I’m 4 cups of coffee in on this Friday, I wouldn’t trade any of it. In a city that offers so much every day of the week at every hour of the day, it’s crazy to not take advantage of it. I have friends who work themselves ragged throughout the week, work on the weekends and have maybe 12 hours for themselves that spend sleeping until noon. And it makes me sad for them. Because Cheryl’s right; there’s always going to be more work.

RT: The Pattern

This happened my first year I moved to Chicago…

This summer will mark my 2-year anniversary. Will this also mark my 2-year anniversary?